Ireland have sent debutants United Arab Emirates crashing out of the World Twenty20, winning the Group B match in Sylhet by the Duckwoth Lewis method.
The Irish, who opted to bowl after winning the toss, restricted their opponents to 6-123 in 20 overs before reaching 3-103 in 14.2 overs when two power failures and then rain stopped play on Wednesday.
Ireland were declared the winners by 21 runs using the Duckworth Lewis formula.
It was Ireland’s second win on the trot.
A second successive defeat for UAE means they are eliminated from the tournament.
Ireland lost their opener Paul Stirling, who hit a brilliant 60 in his team’s three-wicket win over Zimbabwe Monday, for just eight but quickly rallied.
Ed Joyce topscored with 43 while skipper William Porterfield made 33 not out.
Ireland’s bowlers, led by spinner Paul Stirling (2-12) and paceman Kevin O’Brien (2-17) kept it tight, preventing any UAE batsmen from hitting a big innings despite a soild 35-run start in five overs.
Once opener Amjad Ali fell for 20, it all went wrong for the UAE who were competing in the World Twenty20 for the first time.
Shaiman Anwar topscored with a 28-ball 30 which included two sixes.
Elsewhere in Group B, Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands earlier on Wednesday, putting them in contention for a place in the Super-10 stage.
The Dutch also have one win from two games and are still in with a chance of progressing.
The top two teams in both Group A and B will join the eight seeds in the next round, starting from March 21.